SpaceX Set for Overnight Rocket Launch From Vandenberg; Could Bring Sonic Booms

SpaceX is planning an overnight launch of 25 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit on Friday, March 13, 2026.

The mission will launch aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex-4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

After stage separation, the rocket’s first-stage booster is expected to attempt a landing on the SpaceX droneship “Of Course I Still Love You,” stationed in the Pacific Ocean.

The first-stage booster supporting the mission will fly for the 32nd time. It has previously launched missions including NROL-87, NROL-85, SARah-1, SWOT, Transporter-8, Transporter-9, NROL-146, Bandwagon-2, NROL-153, NROL-192, Transporter-14, Transporter-15, and 19 Starlink missions.

When and Where to Watch the Launch

The mission has a launch window from 3:58 a.m. to 7:28 a.m. PT on Friday.

A live webcast will begin about five minutes before liftoff. The launch can be viewed on SpaceX’s X account, the company’s website, or through the X TV app.

Residents in parts of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties may hear one or more sonic booms during the mission, often described as brief thunder-like sounds.

Sonic booms occur when an object travels faster than the speed of sound. Depending on weather conditions and the rocket’s flight path, the sounds could be heard several minutes after liftoff.

Sonic booms from previous launches have drawn complaints from some nearby residents who say the sounds can disrupt daily life.

The mission will use SpaceX’s Falcon 9, a 230-foot-tall two-stage rocket that has flown hundreds of missions and is designed for reuse.

Falcon 9 is widely described as the first orbital-class rocket designed to be reused and flown multiple times.

According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) operations plan advisory, a backup launch opportunity is available on March 14 if the mission is delayed.

The satellites are part of SpaceX’s Starlink network, a growing constellation designed to provide high-speed broadband internet service worldwide, particularly in remote or underserved areas.

SpaceX, founded in 2002 by Elon Musk, is a private aerospace company that launches commercial, civil, and military missions. The company operates major launch facilities in Florida, California, and South Texas.